Jump to content

Welcome to NikonForums.com
Register now to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more. If you already have an account, login here - otherwise create an account for free today!
Photo

Modding softbox to strip...


  • Please log in to reply
4 replies to this topic

#1
ScottinPollock

ScottinPollock

    Forum Veteran

  • Forum Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 648 posts
  • Country Flag
  • LocationWest Slope Northern Sierra Nevada

So I have more soft boxes and other light mods than I care to list here, but I am looking for some narrower light for some new projects. I could add to the collection with a couple of strip boxes, OR...

Would I get a similar result from creating something like this?

stripboxmod.png

As you can see I am looking for a 9"x36" strip... but is there any reason why either of these two mods would not give similar results of an actual 9x36 box short of a little less efficiency of output?



#2
Merco_61

Merco_61

    Nikonian

  • Premium Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 10,588 posts
  • Country Flag
  • LocationUppsala, Sweden

Site Supporter

At least the center strip idea should work. It will be much less efficient than a dedicated strip light as the reflecting surfaces aren't optimized for the narrow strip.



#3
ScottinPollock

ScottinPollock

    Forum Veteran

  • Forum Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 648 posts
  • Country Flag
  • LocationWest Slope Northern Sierra Nevada

I am no expert in the physics of light... by my concern was that not having walls adjacent to the opening would result in a wider dispersion of light.

 

Then again, the interior of most boxes is highly reflective, so maybe the walls don't contribute to anything other than the opening, and of course more efficiency (which is far from needed in this scenario).



#4
Merco_61

Merco_61

    Nikonian

  • Premium Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 10,588 posts
  • Country Flag
  • LocationUppsala, Sweden

Site Supporter

As you say, the interior is highly reflective as the whole idea of a softbox is to bounce the light around and spreading it out to get softer light from the strobe head's point source.



#5
Nikon Shooter

Nikon Shooter

    Nikonian

  • Forum Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 4,041 posts
  • Country Flag
  • Location: French Canadian living in Central Europe

Peter got good points here. I use strip masks on two of my

1'x4' strip boxes and all my soft boxes have grids.

 

The shape of the strip boxes allow the use of both… even

at the same time.